9 - 10 May 2009 - Port
Macquarie Baptist Church

This concert
featured Joseph Haydn's'Nelson Mass' and other
vocal works
in conjunction with the T.O.P.S. orchestra.

Bringing a rich tapestry of music from the
Classical period to audiences was the aim of Musical Director and conductor Robyn Ryan in
Hastings Choristers' first major concert for 2009.

This program was the perfect way to
celebrate the wonderful music of Josef Haydn who died in
Vienna 200 years ago on 31st May 1809. Our audiences delighted in a Trumpet
Concerto performed by our own trumpeter extraordinaire, Jason Heise, a
short Symphony and the extraordinary Nelson Mass - what a treat for
lovers of fine music.

HAYDN TRUE was presented on
Saturday 9th May at 8.00 pm and Sunday 10th May at 2.00 pm in the Port Macquarie
Baptist Church. Doors opened three-quarters of an hour before concert time, and
pre-concert talks before each performance whetted the audiences'
appetites.

Click the image to view the program....

Singing as a vocal
quartet in preparation for the imminent HAYDN TRUE
concerts on Mothers Day weekend was an exhilarating journey
for some well known Hastings singers.

John Thompson, Nina Mestric, Miriam
Lattimore, and Ian Castle got into gear to bring the swoon
factor to Port Macquarie concert goers with their beautiful voices
enhanced by our own local Cantorus choir and Sydney based TOPS
orchestra, in Joseph Haydn's 'Missa in Angustiiscommonly
known as the 'Nelson Mass'.

John Thompson, a Tenor, has
been a resident of Port Macquarie for 40 years singing in many choirs, stage
shows & charity performances frequently as soloist during all those
years. He has performed extensively around the Mid-North Coast and
interstate, and is a much loved and valued Life-Member of the Hastings
Choristers.

Nina Mestric
had the
principal singing role in 'Missa in Angustiis' which requires a huge
amount of vocal stamina and breath control. She majored at University in
voice specialising in Lieder, Music Theatre and presently is developing her
wide repertoire by mastering new genres.

Miriam Lattimore has
enjoyed singing in various contexts in Port Macquarie including principal
roles with Players Theatre and as a chorister and a soloist with the
Hastings Choristers. Her most recent collaboration with Cantorus was
in the Messiah concerts of Christmas 2008. She has conducted
childrenís choirs for more than thirty years and more recently adult
choirs. She currently directs the Wauchope High School Choir, the Port
Macquarie Uniting Church Menís Choir and the Sing Australia Wauchope
Choir. Usually a soprano, Miriam enjoyed preparing the role of
Contralto for these concerts.

Ian Castle is well known
for his beautiful baritone voice and his many Players Theatre roles. He will
be long remembered for his stunning Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance.
He presently teaches Voice in Port Macquarie after training in Vocal Studies
under the direction of Janet Delpratt during his University years in
Brisbane.